Adjustable truss with automatic swivel



NV 29, 1949 R. E. SUTHERLAND 2,489,831

ADJUSTABLE TRUSS WITH AUTOMATIC SWI'VEL Filed Sept. 8,1947

Patented Nov. 29, 1949 ADJUSTABLE TRUSS WITH AUTMTIC SWIVEL Y' Roy E. Sutherland, Fayette, Ala.

Application September 8, 1947, Serial No. 77 2,719

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to a truss for use on the human body in case of rupture. It has for its main objects to provide such a device that will be highly efficient, cheap'to manufacture, simple in structure, not easy to get out of order, and very comfortable to the wearer.

A further object is to provide a truss with unusually novel features by having the pad in two parts resulting in many advantages, and also having self adjusting means to accommodate the truss to the movement of the body of the wearer. Other objects and advantages will appear from the drawings and description.

By referring to the drawingspart of this application, it will be observed that Fig. l is a vertical front View of part of a human body with a double type of truss in place for use; Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of a round type of truss pad and the supporting end of the brace; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the double type truss; Fig 6 is a view on line 6 6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail View showing part of fastening means of pad or pads to brace; and Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view of holding means of pad or pads on the brace or holder.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the truss comprises a main holder or brace I preferably made of spring steel with pads mounted thereon. The pads are each composed of two parts. One part I is rigid and is preferably made of plastic and has a concave face 8. The other part 9 is preferably made of rubber and is adapted to tightly fit over the rigid part as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 8. The rigid part 1 is provided with holes I for inserting the small bolts II therethrough. Also the rigid part has a raised edge or bead I2 that surrounds the portion where the brace is attached so that the ends of the oblong loop of the brace will rest upon the raised edge I2 to permit a rocking movement of the pad upon the brace I to accommodate the movement of the body of a wearer. The rigid part 1 of the pad is provided with a recess I 3= in its concave face for the small bolt nuts III to fit therein. For use the truss is assembled with suicient space under the heads of the bolts to permit the brace to freely rock upon the pad or the pad upon the brace.

From the foregoing it will appear that the bead I2 across the rigid plastic part 1 of the pad runs parallel with and directly under the brace loop 5. Only the ends of the loop, touch the raised edge of bead I2. The under sides of the loop 5 have enough space under them to permit a slight swivel. The heads of the small bolts II are slightly beveled underneath so as to permit the top sides of the loop 5 to also have a slight swivel. This slight swivel causes the wearer to have the same even pressure when sitting, standing or bending over. Such is an important featurs, as much discomfort is caused when rigid pads dig into the body at the top or bottom of the pads.

Two screw bolts I I are used in each pad. One is in each end of the brace loop 5. This prevents the pads from shifting. The screw bolts I I have threads only for the thickness of the nuts I4, which allows the screws to be tight in the nuts i4, yet rest loosely against the top of the loop, thus permitting the desired swivel. The nuts I4 are out of the way in the recess I3 in the concave face of the pad rigid part l. The truss may be made longer or shorter by moving the screw bolts II to the desired holes I0. The plastic, parts 'I being concave, when pressure is ap- 'plied to the sponge rubber covering 9, it automatically becomes concave also.

The spring steel I eliminates belts and straps. Pressure is lessened or applied by bending the spring steel I to the desired pressure point. Also the pressure will be only in the front and rear as the steel I is bent according to the contour of the body, and no pressure will be at the sides of the body. The rubber covering on the pads prevents the truss from slipping. The pressure is inclined to the center of the body instead of pulling to the side.

By having adjustable and interchangeable pads and braces the truss will last indefinitely and meet changing conditions of the body.

The various parts of the truss may be made of any other material suitable for the purpose. Also they may be made in various sizes.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention. I do not wish to limit same to the exact and precise details of structure, but reserve the right to make all modications and changes so long as they remain within the spirit and scope of the following claim.

Having described my invention, I claim:

A truss pad, comprising a rigid member and a rubber member secured to each other, the rigid member being concave inwardly and containing a plurality of aligned holes therethrough, the rubber member being flat and of a size larger 3 than the rigid member, the rubber member opposing the concavity of the rigid member to provide a space therebetween and having a curved edge lapping over the edge of the rigid member, the rigid member having a raised integral bead on its outer face surrounding the plurality of holes and a recess on its inner face in line and contiguous with the plurality of holes, and means for fastening the pad to a truss wire, said means consisting of two bolts passing through two of said holes in the rigid member, the heads of the bolts resting on the outer bead and the nuts being received in the inner recess.

ROY E. SUTHERLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

Dobbs Dec. 27, 1938 

